springtime

Under My Skin

May 13, 2011 by The Noisy Plume

I woke up to a springtime so beautiful:

Honey and trumpets on the wind,

mountain water braiding the new green of the hills,

the shush and flew of starling on the breeze.

It’s so pretty here.

It’s so pretty.

I can feel it getting under my skin.

The best mornings are the beautiful ones,

when I wake up feeling so comfortable in my body,

all my cells are humming,

I can feel something beaming out of me in all directions.

Is there a rebirth, for us too, when the seasons

change from cold to lukewarm?

Do our hearts and souls unfurl, wave in the wind,

so freshly unraveled, so kindly unspooled, that there’s a winsome curl to our every move?

Do you feel it?

“Everything has its beauty, but not everyone sees it.”

[Confucius]

What have you seen today?
In what way are you beaming?

Happy weekending to you all!

Plume

Filed Under: inner beauty, springtime

Wherein The Plume Discusses The Price Of Silver

April 23, 2011 by The Noisy Plume

Spring.

I think it’s finally here.

I was just laying out in the grass in the sunshine after spending most of the day in my studio and I had a realization. Everyone is in a flap about the price of metals right now — with good reason, prices are off the chain! Today silver is priced at $45.86/oz. When I bought my first sheet of sterling silver in 2004, it was priced at $7/oz.

It’s a real pain in the neck.

But this idea dawned on me: the current price of silver will be responsible for a new movement in the metalsmithing realm, worldwide — everybody is scrambling to find new materials to work with, affordable materials. I realized that this could be the start of something amazing! In a while, some of us will be categorized in the art history textbooks as artists who were part of a new movement in the realm of metal! During this decade they might say artists exhibited a sudden return to working with non-precious metals…I think it’s somewhat exciting…

This is the start of a movement.

So much innovation stems from necessity.

This is a time for metalsmiths to dig deep, come up with sustainable options, in terms of materials and it’s a time to be even more creative about what we’re making and what we’re using to make it!!! I know what I like to create. I like to make BIG pieces of sculptural jewelry crafted from sterling silver. If metal prices continue to soar, there might come a time when I can’t afford to create with silver on such a large scale, which begs the question, what can I work with, in terms of materials, that I can afford to purchase and you can afford to claim?

It’s a big question

and I for one am delighting in the effort it’s taking to

find my answers!

I have new tools coming, new techniques for the learning, new materials for plying…the future is looking bright!

_______________________________________________

It’s spring!

It’s Friday!

Good Friday!

This is a season thick with grace.

Have a beautiful weekend, little cheepers.

Filed Under: on the price of silver, springtime

Solo

April 20, 2011 by The Noisy Plume

I’m just in from a twirl about town.

I traveled by bicyclette and my oh my, the breeze was brisk and the sun was pooling like young amber, musky and musty, light and bright. The wavering flex of spring shift is falling all around like chandelier crystals on white marble — so pretty and smashing and the delicate light spinning through and through.

The daffodils hold their holy rows.

The world is tossing itself about in shades of green…

I went on a solo date. The rules for a solo date usually include food, coffee (green tea, in this case), antique or second hand stores, book stores and a camera.

Regardez:

1. The sushi was delicious (my pot of green tea overflowed=eth),

as was the pillaging of my favorite antique shop, right across the street.

2. Walrus and Carpenter, my favorite used bookstore, held more treasures than usual.

3. Will gave me a start from his century old jade tree (it belonged to his mother and her mother before her, before it became his…). I’ve been begging for a piece of this plant for a year and a half…..most politely. You’ve never seen a jade tree like this. The trunk of it is at least as round as my leg, just above the knee. How lucky am I to own a small piece of such a fantastic chloroplastic dynasty?

4. My trusty steed was heavy with bits and bobs but we cruised the sidewalks and greenbelts with utter grace.

This was my first time out and about in my little community on the South end of town in roughly two months.

How did I get so busy?

How did life get so wild?

Well I’m simmering down now and taking my time. I was supposed to take one day off…but it has turned into three. You’ll have to forgive me that! I thank you in advance!!!

Fact:

I love it here.